Spamproofing the Archives

From: Jeffrey Sharp <jss_at_subatomix.com>
Date: Fri Dec 6 14:32:00 2002

Current idea on spamproofing the archives:

[0] Every email address in the archives is replaced with a shortened form.
    For instance:

        user_at_domain.com -> user_at_d...

[1] The shortened address is link to a CGI script like this:

        http://www.subatomix.com/cgi-bin/email?asf3uhh0239q0bs
    
    The script generates a page that asks the user to type in a specific
    string to prove they're human. The query string above is the email
    address with some some simple sort of encryption.

[2] The user types in the string and presses Submit, and it runs the CGI
    again, but with the typed string as part of the query string:

        http://www.subatomix.com/cgi-bin/email?asf3uhh0239q0bs,abbabdedf

    Now the script generates a page with the real email address as a mailto
    hyperlink. The user may bookmark this page if he/she wishes.

Surely this is enough to defeat address harvesters. Does anyone see any
problems with this?

-- 
Jeffrey Sharp

Received on Fri Dec 06 2002 - 14:32:00 GMT